The City hierarchy will have no problem in sacking Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini if he does not lead them to either Premier League or Champions League glory this season, that is the view of City legend Rodney Marsh.

At this moment in time both are looking a little unlikely. City currently sit third in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Chelsea, who look formidable this season. The Blues' domestic campaign has been very on/off so far with them winning five, drawing two and losing two of their first nine league games.

On the European front City have a hell of a lot to do in order to progress into he latter stages of the tournament. Losing to Bayern and drawing with both Roma and CSKA Moscow has left them trailing in third place in Group E.

Marsh, who made 118 appearances for City between 1966-72, fears for Pellegrini's job.

"I think he will get the sack. There is every chance, if this carries on, that Pellegrini will be out, the same as [Roberto] Mancini was.

"Mancini won the Premier League and the following year finished second and he was sacked.

"If Pellegrini carries on like this, and Man City don't win the league or get to the final at least of the Champions League, which is looking dodgy as well, I think Pellegrini is sacked. He could go earlier."

Things will look a whole lot worse if the reigning Premier League champions do not come away from this weekend's Manchester derby with all three points. Their arch-rivals, Manchester United, will go into the clash confident that they can get beat a struggling City side who haven't won in three games in all competitions.

Alex Dodd

Alex is a third year sports journalism student at Staffordshire University. As well as his love for sport he has a huge passion for technology and always has his eye on the breaking news in the tech world.